Murphy said he will represent change

SOMERSET — Playground and Recreation Commissioner Christopher Murphy, who has taken out nomination papers to run for selectman, said he would represent change to the board.

Mr. Murphy said he has done everything he said he would do when he ran for Playground and Recreation Commission two years ago. He said a stage for concerts has been put up at Pierce Beach Park, swings were put in there, a movie screen was purchased and sex offender information has been posted at parks.

"I carried out my obligation, right down to arguing with my board members about back-room deals," Mr. Murphy said.

Selectwoman Eleanor Gagnon is the incumbent in this year's election while former Selectman Patrick O'Neil has also taken out nomination papers to run for the seat. Nomination papers for the annual town election on May 19 are available in the town clerk's office and can be taken out up until March 20. In order to get a name on the ballot, they must be returned with the signatures of at least 50 registered voters from Somerset by March 24.

Mr. Murphy said each department in town should be able to run on base salaries and said increasing taxes every year is wrong.

Mr. Murphy said if the town has to sell land, as has been discussed in recent years, it is not in good financial condition. He said the town needs to run on a fixed budget on a fixed income and said excess spending has to stop. He said the town needs to be run like an incorporated business. He said such businesses don't just increase the price of their products when they are having financial problems, but also eliminate positions.

Mr. Murphy said the taxpayers are the asset, but they can't be the remedy for the selectmen's problems. He said he thinks there is too much management in the fire department and said when the deputy chief retires, that position should be changed to director of emergency medical services. He said the town of Somerset is paying salaries to some of its employees that are as much as the same employees in some major cities.

Mr. Murphy, who ran for School Committee last year, said the town has a good school system, but not the best. He said residents in town need to open their eyes.

"We are a third-world town," Mr. Murphy said. "The town is losing. The town's taxes are increasing. We are getting less services and less product for our money."

Mr. Murphy said the sexual harassment lawsuit the town lost last year caused Somerset to have to pay excess legal fees.

Mr. Murphy said he is nobody's puppet and would make his own decisions on the Board of Selectmen.

"I don't need to be a selectman," Mr. Murphy said. "It's not about absolute power. It's about doing the right thing."

There are also seats up for election this year on the School Committee, Board of Assessors, Planning Board, Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, Board of Library Trustees and Playground and Recreation Commission. There are also seats up for election for town treasurer, town clerk, tax collector and moderator.

Other than School Committee member Donald Rebello, all incumbents have taken out nomination papers to run for re-election. Those incumbents include School Committee member Elizabeth White, assessor Michael Langfield, water and sewer commissioner Scott O'Brien, Planning Board member Gary Simons, playground and recreation commissioner Raymond Frizado, library trustees Eleanor Buckley and Jessica Achadinha, Moderator Lucia Casey, Town Clerk Patricia Hart, Town Treasurer Edmund Lima, Tax Collector Lisa Viana. Mr. Rebello has said he will run for another term on the School Committee.

Last week, Jeff Thompson took out nomination papers to run for the playground and recreation commission seat that Mr. Frizado holds. Zachary Powers-Alves has also taken out papers to run for the seat.

Other potential challengers to incumbents who have taken out nomination papers for the election so far include Roger Benevides for town clerk, Paula Moniz for water and sewer commissioner and Paulette Normandin for library trustee.